“Curtis has given me something that I will have for my entire lifetime, which is solid technique. It helped me curate my ear and perfect what I’m hearing. Coming out of Curtis, I now have more an ability to be my own teacher than ever before, vocally, but also emotionally in this art form. ” —Merissa Beddows
Season 18 of WHYY’s acclaimed On Stage at Curtis series opens with a portrait of Curtis alumna Merissa Beddows (Voice ’22), who became a viral sensation in 2022 as a contestant on season 17 of America’s Got Talent (AGT). The soprano from Yonkers, New York, delivered spot-on impressions of celebrities like Ariana Grande, Stevie Nicks, and Celine Dion singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
While studying here in Philadelphia, Ms. Beddows performed the roles of Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Nora (Riders to the Sea), and Belinda (Dido and Aeneas) with Curtis Opera Theatre, and the roles of Flora (Turn of the Screw) and Luisa (The Fantasticks) with the Chautauqua Institution. A graduate of the Juilliard Pre-College Division in 2016, she studied for two years at the Manhattan School of Music before attending Curtis, where she worked with adjunct faculty member Julia Faulkner. Ms. Beddows has attended the Brevard Music Center and the Chautauqua Institution, and in 2020, was selected as a participant at the Ravinia Festival and the Britten–Pears Young Artist Programme.
In this episode of On Stage at Curtis, Ms. Beddows discusses the mixed blessings of having perfect pitch, the origin of her ability to do impressions, the moment she wanted to be an opera singer after watching Jackie Evancho perform on America’s Got Talent, and embodying an older character as Lady Billows in Benjamin Britten’s opera Albert Herring with Curtis Opera Theatre. She reflects on her triumphs and challenges as a contestant on AGT and talks about writing her own pop songs, creating her own content, and pursuing a path to mainstream commercial success.
Click HERE to watch the On Stage at Curtis episode, or click the video below.
Photos of Ms. Beddows courtesy of Nichole MCH Photography and America’s Got Talent.
“My path to Curtis was so winding and unexpected. I would definitely tell my younger self to trust the process. Don’t try to rush anything. Trust that you’re learning from every single experience you have, musical or otherwise.” —Micah Gleason
Season 18 of WHYY’s acclaimed On Stage at Curtis series opens with a portrait of Micah Gleason, second-year Rita E. Hauser Conducting Fellow at Curtis. Recognized for her diverse performance abilities as a conductor, vocal soloist, and chamber musician, Ms. Gleason entered the school in 2022 and studies with renowned conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Her musical journey began with singing, and her love for music was ignited through performance experiences in large choirs and orchestras, prompting her to study voice, opera, choral and chamber music, art songs, and smaller-scale works.
The Chapel Hill, North Carolina native was enamored with music from a young age, listening to the albums of opera singers like Kathleen Battle, taking free voice lessons at the local university with graduate students at the suggestion of her mother, and attending the Interlochen Arts Camp and the Interlochen Arts Academy in her final years of high school. Through these formative moments, she was inspired to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts and Master of Music degrees in conducting and vocal arts from the Bard College Conservatory of Music.
While at Curtis, Ms. Gleason has conducted many chamber works, such Olivier Messiaen’s Oiseaux Exotiqueswith Ensemble 20/21, and Richard Strauss’s Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. She opened the Ensemble 20/21’s season this month with a performance of Luciano Berio’s Folk Songs, where she conducts and sings from the podium.
In this episode of On Stage at Curtis, she tackles Julia Perry‘sStudy for Orchestra (also known as a Short Piece for Orchestra) with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, and Igor Stravinsky‘s thrilling tale of trickery and magic, L’Histoire du Soldat, featuring the talents of Curtis’s young musicians alongside beloved actor and narrator John de Lancie, award-winning performer David Shifrin (Clarinet ’71); and prominent soloist and chamber musician Soovin Kim (Violin ’99).
Click HEREto watch the On Stage at Curtis episode, or click the video below.
GRADUATION RECITAL
In a culmination of her studies at Curtis, Micah Gleason will present her graduation recital on Saturday, December 2, at 7:30 p.m., at Gould Rehearsal Hall on the Curtis campus, conducting Manuel De Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat, Suites no. 1 and 2, Jesse Montgomery’s Coincident Dances, and Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1, with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. To attend this recital, click HERE. This performance will also be broadcast live on Curtis’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
Curtis Opera Theatre‘s daring new production of George Frideric Handel’s L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato(The Cheerful Man, the Thoughtful Man, and the Moderate Man) opened the Curtis Opera Theatre’s 2023–24 season on November 10 and 12 at the Philadelphia Film Center.
Based on two poems by John Milton, this theatrical pastoral ode featured staging and costume design by acclaimed director Chas Rader-Shieber. Under the baton of Nicholas McGegan, “one of the finest baroque conductors of his generation” (Independent), L’Allegro showcased an exciting cast of rising young opera stars accompanied by members of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.
Check out photo highlights below, showcasing the casts of L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, courtesy of Ashley E. Smith/Wide Eyed Studios.
Since its debut in 2022, the acclaimed podcast Speaking Soundly, hosted by David Krauss, principal trumpet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, has offered listeners a window into the soul of the world’s most renowned performing artists. Three of Curtis’s faculty members, mentor conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, William R. and Hyunah Yu Brody Distinguished Chair Anthony McGill (Clarinet ’00), and Dorothy Richard Starling Chair in Violin Studies Midori, have been interviewed over the past year, along with alumni Joseph Conyers (Double Bass ’04), Ray Chen (Violin ’10), and Joseph Alessi (Trombone ’81).
The podcast features candid and compelling backstage conversations with today’s top musicians and is released weekly on Tuesdays through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at Artful Narratives Media. Follow Speaking Soundly on Instagram and Facebook.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Three-time GRAMMY Award-winning pianist and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin is the music and artistic director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestre Métropolitain, and music director at the Metropolitan Opera where he’s just the third person to hold this position in the company’s 140-year history. In the episode—recorded backstage at Carnegie Hall—Yannick discusses the primary role of a conductor, his calm and friendly demeanor while on the podium (spoiler: he doesn’t know how to be mean!), how he became inspired to conduct at age 10, and why he reclaimed his love for the piano during the pandemic. Yannick shares the importance of taking every opportunity to perform seriously and his deep belief that music can connect and transform anyone who listens.
GRAMMY-nominated renowned violinist Midori is a visionary artist, activist, and educator who made her debut with the New York Philharmonic at age 11. She reflects on her decision to “pursue a career in music as a performer” in her twenties, what she learned from mentors: famed violinist Isaac Stern and legendary conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, and why she loves to practice after a performance. Midori shares about her foundation Midori and Friends, which has helped to provide music education to over 300,000 underserved youth in NYC, opens up about her love for her home-away-from-home (the dressing room), and David reminisces about the first time he heard her on the radio.
Philadelphia Orchestra principal bass Joseph Conyers discusses his recent promotion and the unusual circumstances of his audition (it’s not every day that one competes with their own students!), reminisces about his early introduction to classical music through his mother, and reflects on the music of his childhood Black Baptist Church and its emphasis on joyful noise, not perfection. At the end of the interview, David calls Joseph “one of the most disciplined people he knows” for reasons you might not expect.
International violin virtuoso Ray Chen is redefining the role of today’s classical soloist. Using social media, Ray aims to educate, enlighten, and entertain his audience before they get to the concert hall. He credits his grit and determination to his experience of being a first-generation immigrant and likens playing his ten-million-dollar Stradivarius violin to wielding Thor’s hammer.
Longtime principal trombonist with the New York Philharmonic and Juilliard faculty member Joseph Alessi discusses his musical childhood, the key to inspiring his students, and a recent health scare that jeopardized his career and caused him to consider a life without the trombone.
Avery Fisher Prize winner and clarinetist Anthony McGill is the first African-American to hold a principal chair in the New York Philharmonic’s 180-year history. He sees his high-profile position as an opportunity to inspire a new generation of diverse musicians. Anthony discusses his work as an artist and activist, the greatest experience of his life, and how Michael Jordan inspired him to strive for excellence.
Photo credits for top banner image: 1) Portrait of Yannick Nézet-Séguin courtesy of the Orchestre Métropolitain. 2) Photo of Ray Chen courtesy of the artist. 3) Photo of Anthony McGill by Todd Rosenberg. 4) Photo of Midori by Nigel Parry. 5) Photo of Joseph Alessi courtesy of the artist. 6) Portrait of Joseph Conyers by Chris Lee Photo.
Anthony McGill (Clarinet ’00), Curtis’s William R. and Hyunah Yu Brody Distinguished Chair, principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic, and artistic director of Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program, has been named Musical America‘s Instrumentalist of the Year. Praised for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character” (New York Times) and his “exquisite combination of technical refinement and expressive radiance” (Baltimore Sun), Mr. McGill won the 2020 Avery Fisher Prize, one of classical music’s most significant awards given in recognition of soloists who represent the highest level of musical excellence.
Mr. McGill is honored alongside Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen, composer Kevin Puts, conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, and award-winning Philadelphia-based ensemble The Crossing as recipients of the 63rd Annual Musical America Awards.
In a phone interview, Mr. McGill, who previously served as the principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera and associate principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, talked to Musical America about access to the arts and the enjoyment he receives from working with young musicians.
“A lot of these diversity initiatives will only have an effect when people understand why we should care about them in the first place,” he said. “It’s not about numbers. It’s about humanity and empathy and connection.”
Read the article and interview with Mr. McGill HEREand learn more about all the 2024 award winners HERE.
Season 18 of WHYY’s acclaimed 
Since its debut in 2022, the acclaimed podcast 